Article timing and indexing mechanism



C- 9, 1951 R. E. J. NoRDQulsT ErAL 2,570,265

ARTICLE TIMING AND INDEXING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26,1948 TOR.

55. am 55 w www Nw Oct. 9, 1951 R. E. J. NoRDQulsT ETAL 2,570,265

ARTICLE TIMING AND INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 26, 1948 4,Sheecs-Sheet2 if f5 @5196417 W 717% /47 z fl TTOE/VEXS Oct 9, 1951 R. E. J.NoRDQUlsT Erm. 2,570,265

ARTICLE TIMING AND INDEXING MECHANISM 4 ASheets-Sheec 5 Filed Nov. 26,1948 Oct. 9, 1951 R. E. J. NoRDQUlsT ErAL 2,570,265

ARTICLE TIMING AND INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet4 Patented Oct. 9, 1951 ARTICLE TIMING AND INDEXIN MECHANISM i Ronald E.J. Nordquist, Maplewood, and Julius Foris, Elizabeth, N. J., assignorsto American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New JerseyApplication November 26, 1948, Serial N o. 61,944

16 Claims. l

The present invention relates to timing and indexing mechanisms for usewith articles which are positioned at random on a conveyor and hasparticular reference to a mechanism wherein articles which areincorrectly positioned on the conveyor are repositioned in indexed ortimed relation to a feeding device of a subsequent machine. i

This invention contemplates a mechanism which is particularly suitablefor use with articles such as containers or the like, and which may beinserted adjacent a conveyor connecting different machines in a line, asfor example, a container filling machine and a container closingmachine, wherein the discharge of containers from the first machine isnot timed with the operation of the second machine. In such a situation,it is essential that the containers be accurately indexed into thesecond machine to avoid the possibility of having them crushed by thefeed-in device of the machine.

In the present mechanism a pivotally mounted stop or trip linger locatedadjacent a continuously advancing conveyor is actuated by the leadingedge of a mispositioned container so that one end of the finger isprojected into a recessed or countersunk wall DOrtion, preferably thebottom, of the container to momentarily halt its forward progress untilit is properly indexed. The finger is then automatically withdrawn fromthe recessed wall portion of the container, and the released, indexedcontainer is thereupon advanced by the conveyor into another feedingdevice such' as a pocket of a feeding turret.

`The pockets of the feeding turret are preferably shaped so that acertain tolerance or latitude in the position of the containers on theconveyor is permissible. Every container which is initially positionedon the conveyor within certain predetermined limits or tolerances is notintercepted by the stop or trip finger and is allowed to proceeduninterruptedly into the turret or other feeding device.

On the other hand, every container which is mispositioned on theconveyor, i. e. which is not positioned within the allowable limits andwhich would be injured or crushed should it be permitted to proceeduninterruptedly into the turret, is momentarily halted by the stopfinger until it is properly positioned to be safely received by theturret.

The mechanism is designed so that a row of abutting containers may besafely fed by the conveyor to the turret provided the first container inthe row is properly indexed. The trip finger such a row, and isthereafter rendered in operay tive while the turret itself separates andindexes therefore operates to index the first container in u thesucceeding containers in the row. When a break in the continuity of therow occurs, the trip finger once more becomes operative to correct theposition of the next container to be fed to it, should such correctionbe necessary.

An object of the invention is to provide an indexing mechanism whichstops the advance of an article which is mispositioned on a continuouslymoving conveyor until it is properly positioned on the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which willindex single isolated containers or closely spaced and/or abuttingcontainers delivered at random on a conveyor so that they may be safelyfed in spaced order into a feeding device such as a turret.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a simpleindexing mechanism wherein the indexing operation is performed by a tripfinger which is projected into and engages within a recessed wallportion of the article being indexed.

A further object is to provide an indexing mechanism wherein theindexing operation is performed partially by the article being indexed,and partially by devices which operate continuously and independently ofthe article.

An additional object is to provide an indexing mechanism wherein thetrip finger which performs the indexing operation is held inoperativefor a certain length of time so that articles which are positioned on aconveyor with certain allowable predetermined limits are permitted toproceed past the finger without having their positions on the conveyorchanged.

Still another object is to provide a mechanism which operates to indexan abutting row of containers into a feed turret by indexing the firstcontainer in the row, and thereafter is rendered inoperative until abreak in the continuity of the row occurs.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an indexing mechanism constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substanlially along the line 2--2 inFig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially Y the rotary turret I2.

along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 inFig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the mechanismin a different operating position, parts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 but show-- ing the mechanism ina different operating position,` parts being broken away;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail taken along the line 1-1 in Fig. 6, partsbeing broken away;

Fig. 8 is a -plan view similar to Fig. 6, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 inFig. 4. Y

As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention the drawingsillustrate a mechanism wherein containers A which are advanced at randomor in untimed position by a conveyor I consisting of two conveyor chainsI I are indexed and delivered to a, rotating starwheel or turret I2which in turn feeds them into an adjacent turret I3 of a machine whichmay be a seaming machine. If desired, the turret I2 may be utilized asthe feed-in turret of the seaming machine, in which case the turret I3may be eliminated.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the containers A are shownas being substantially rectangular in cross-section, although it shouldbe clearly understood that the invention is capable of use withcontainers of round and other shapes. The containers A as i11ustra.edare formed with tubular bodies I4 (Fig. 4) which may be constructedeither of metal or libre, the lower ends of which are preferably closedby means of metal end closures I which are joined to the bodies I4 inend seams I6. 'I'he end closures I5 are countersunk or recessedinwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and have a front countersink wallI'I, a rear countersink wall I8, and two side countersink walls I9. Themetallic paris of the containers are preferably formed of a magneticmaterial such as sheet steel or tin plate.

In the illustrated embodiment of theA invention, each container A isadvanced along a runway 20 (Figs. 1 and 2) by the pair of conveyorchains vI I, the container having previously been placed upon the chainsII in random position in any suitable manner, for example by thedischarge mechanism of a filling machine. The upper flights of thechains I I operate in grooves 2I milled in the runway 20 and extendslightly above its surface so that they engage and support thecontainer, which is guided along a predetermined path of travel bysuitable guide rails 22 supported by brackets 23 bolted to the runway20.

Adjacent the turret I2 the feed chains II operate around a pair ofdriving sprockets 24 which are keyed to a shaft 25 journaled in bearings26 bolted to the underside of the runway 20.

Rotation of the shaft 25 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 4)is brought about through a small bevel gear 21 (Figs. 1 and 3) securedto the inner end of the shaft. This gear meshes with a large bevel gear28 bolted to the underside of 'Ihe turret I2 in turn is keyed to androtated by a drive shaft 29 which constitutes the driving element of themechanism and is rotated in any-suitable manner.

As each mispositioned container advances along the runway 20, itsforward progress is momentarily halted by a tripper or stop finger 45which is actuated by the container itself.

The stop finger 45 (Figs. 1, 2, 4. 5 and 7) constitutes one of theelements of the instant indexing mechanism which is located within anelongated, subs.antially rectangular housing member 46 set into a cutaway portion 41 of the runway 20 between the conveyor chains II. Thehousing 46 is screwed to the undersurface of the runway 20 and is formedwith an elongated open central portion 48 having two side` walls 49.

The stop finger 45 is pivotally mounted at approximately its mid-pointon a pivot pin 50 secured in the opposing walls of an elongated slot 5Iformed in a long horizontal arm 52 of a bell crank lever 53, which leveris also formed with a short depending arm 54. The bell crank lever 53 inturn is pivotally mounted within the housing 46 on a pivot pin 55secured in the housing side walls 49.

The depending arm 54 of the bell crank lever 53 is engaged by andpressed in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5) bya small compression spring 56 located in a bore 51 formed in the housing46. An adjusting bolt 58 permits regulation of the pressure exerted bythe spring 56.

The horizontal arm 52 of the bell crank lever 53 is thus urged into andnormally held in an up or raised position (Fig. 5) by the action of thespring 55. The upwardly movement of the arm 52 is limited by a stop pin59 which is secured in the side walls 49 of the housing 46 and whichoperates in a. recess 60 formed at the extremity of the arm 52. The stoplinger 45 which is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 50 in the bellcrank lever arm 52, is maintained in its operative position when the arm52 is in this up or raised position (Fig. 5).

The forward portion of the stop finger 45, which lies to the left of thepivot pin 50, overbalances the rearward portion and thereby gives thefinger 45 a positive tendency to rotate in a counterclockwise direction(as viewed in Fig. 5).

v'Ihus the stop linger 45 normally rests with its sharp forward orcontact edge 62 and the upper surface 53 of its forward portion flushwith or below the upper surface of the conveyor chains II. In thisposition the upper surface 64 of the rearward portion of the stop finger45 is inclined upwardly with respect to the chains II and extends abovethe latter (Fig. 5)

Rotation of the stop linger 45 beyond this normal position is preventedby a stop pin 65 which operates in a recess 66 formed inthe forward endof the linger 45. The stop pin 65 is secured in the opposing walls ofthe slot 5I of the horizontal arm 52 of the bell crank lever 53.

As a mispositioned container A is advanced by the conveyor chains Il,its leading edge passes over the contact edge 62 and over the forwardportion 4of the stop :linger 45 without changing the position of thenger (Fig. 5).

However, when the leading edge of the container engages the inclinedsurface 64 it rotates the finger 45 in a clockwise direction. Rotationof the finger 45 in this direction is positively limited by a stop pin61 set in the housing walls 49 which engages a tail piece 58 whichdepends from the rearward end of the finger 45, and by the pin 65 whichoperates in the recess 66.

It will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5 that the major portion I69 of theupper surface of the horizontal arm 52 of the bell crank lever 53 islevel with or below the upper surface of the chains II when the lever 53is in its up or normal position. The arm 52 is, however, formed with ashort. upwardly inclined shoulder 'I0 which merges into a longer portion1I which is normally inclined upwardly and extends above the surface ofthe conveyor chains I I. The shoulder 18 is spaced from the contact edge62 of the finger 45 a distance at least equal to the length of acontainer Al so that there is no interference with the rotation of thefinger 45.

-The rotary movement of the finger 45 raises its contact edge 62, abovethe level of the conveyor chains II and projects `,it into thecountersunk or recessed portion of thecontainer bottom end closure I5.Continued/ advancement of the container brings the rear inside verticalcountersunk wall I 8 of its recessed bottom closure I5 into en-`gagement with the contact edge 62, thus halting the forward progress ofthe container even though the conveyor chains II continue to move. Thisposition of a container A is shown in Fig. 4 and in broken lines in Fig.1.

In order tosteady the halted container A, an elongated horseshoe typepermanent magnet 12 is provided which is supported by nonmagneticbrackets 13 secured to the underside of the can runway 20. The magnet'I2 surrounds the housing 46 and its poles extend almost to the uppersurface of the runway 20.

Because of the strong downward pull exerted by the magnet 12 upon themagnetic portions of the container, it is positively prevented frombouncing upon the chains II as they slide along beneath it. Thus, anytendency which it might have to hurdle the contact edge 62 is completelyeliminated.

In some instances, particularly where the weight of the container A andits contents is con` siderable, it is possible to omit the magnet 12.However, when it is provided, as in the present exemplary embodiment ofthe invention, the

other elements of the mechanism adjacent the magnet 12, which elementsinclude the chains I I, the runway 28, housing 46, the lever 53, and thepivot finger 45 should preferably be made of nonmagnetic material suchas brass or stainless steel.

Since the container A is held motionless by the stop finger 45 while thechains II continue to advance, the position of the container on theconveyor is constantly changed and the container is thus brought to itsproper position on the conveyor. At this point the stop finger 45 iswithdrawn from the recessed bottom of the container A to release thecontainer from the contact edge 62. This is effected by cams 15 (Figs.1, 2 and 3) which depend from the peripheral portion of the undersurfaceof the turret I2, each cam 15 being formed with an inclined forward face16 and a straight dwell section 11.

The clockwise rotation (as seen in Figs. 1 and 6) of the turret I2brings the cams 15 successively into engagement with the rounded upperend of a trip pin 18 formed at the end of a lateral arm 19 which isintegral with and extends from the extremity of the bell crank arm 52.Portions of the magnet 12, the housing 46, and the runway are cut awayto clear the lateral arm 18.

As the inclined forward face 16 of a cam 15 engages the pif. 18 andforces it downwardly, the arm 52 of the bell crank lever 53 is rockedaround the pin 55 in a clockwise downward di-l rection. The pivot pin 5Uof the stop finger 45 is thus carried downwardly, but the tail piece 68of the finger 45, which rests on the stop pin. E1 (as seen in Fig. 4) isheld from downward movement. Hence, the contact edge 62 of the finger 45is completely withdrawn from the countersunk bottom of the container Awhen the pin 18 reaches its lowermost position and assumes the positionshown in Fig. 7, thereby releasing the container. The released containeris immediately picked up by the chains II and fed forward over thedepressed finger 45 and lever arm 52 into a turret pocket 88 which isset off by pointed pocket fingers 8I formed on the periphery of theturret I2.

Each pocket may be considered as extending from the apex 82 of a finger8| to the apex 82 of the following finger, and is defined by a gentlycurved front wall 83, a peripheral section 84 of the turret I2, and arearI wall 85. It will be noted that the pocket front wall 83constitutes the rear wall of a finger 8l, while the pocket rear wall 85constitutes the front wall of a finger 8|.

The timing of the mechanism is such that the front corner of thecontainer engages the wall 83 of the finger 8l which is adjacent the cam15 which has just released the container. The

initial contact is made at an intermediate pointV the pocket fingers 8|is less than the forwardv lineal speed of the conveyor chain II.. Inaddition, the rotary path of travel of the fingers 8| makes theireffective forward speed even slower in comparison with the forward.speed of the chains II. As a result, the container A is decelerated and,the point of contact between the corner of the container A and the wall83 moves backwardly along the wall 83 towards the juncture of the wall83 and the turret periphery 84. Hence, the container is gradually easedinto the pocket 80 and when fully seated is engaged from the rear by therear pocket wall 85 as the turret finger 8| sweeps into position behindit.

A container which is located on the conveyor II by the finger 45 in themanner just described may be said to have been placed in a set" orstandard position on the conveyor. Any container which is initiallypositioned on the conveyor in advance of the set position must have itsposition corrected by the finger 45 or it will have its long side wallengaged by a pocket finger 8| and thus be crushed between the Cinger 8land the outer guide rail 22.

However, a container which is positioned somewhat to the rear of the setposition can still enter a turret pocket 80 without being crushed, sincethe pocket is longer than the container. Such a, container, of course,initially contacts the pocket wall 83 farther back than a container inset position does, but nevertheless enters the pocket safely.

Figure 8 shows in solid lines the relative po sitions of the turret I2and a container A which is` in set position on the chains II, the stopfinger 45 having just been withdrawn from the recessed bottom of thecontainer. The position of the container drawn in dot and dash lines inthe same figure illustrates the maximum rearward deviation (shown as thedistance X) from the set position permitted a container if it is toenter a turret pocket 80 safely. In other words any container positionedon the chains II between the set position and the position shown in dotand dash lines need not be stopped by the stop finger 45. Hence thedwell portions 11 of the cams 15 are made the proper length to renderthe stop finger 45 inoperative while containers which are so positionedpass over it and into the turret.

After the cam dwell portion 11 passes the pin .'IB, the bell crank lever52 is freed and is urged upwardly by the spring 58. However, the weightof each released container as it rides over the surface 1I holds thelever 52 depressed against the pressure of the spring until the rearwall of th'e container moves past the end of the lever. The spring V56then resets the bell crank lever 52 and the finger 45 is thusmade readyfor the next container.

The above description is given for the operation of the mechanism uponisolated containers. When a row of abutting containers is fed theoperation of the mechanism is somewhat different, although basically itperforms the same function of correctly positioning the containers sothat they are not crushed Vby the turret I2.

The rst container of a row of abutting containers, if it bemispositioned on the conveyor chains II, is stopped by the stop ringer45 in the manner just described and is thus indexed on the'chains. Thisoperation, of course, repositions the whole row on the conveyor. Uponitsv release, the first container proceeds into the turret I2 and isseated in a pocket 80. The succeeding containers move forward with thefirst container and are decelerated with it as it engages a front pocketwall 83 and is eased into the pocket.

As the rear finger 8l o1' the pocket sweeps into position behind it, thefirst container is cut from the row and separated from the secondcontainer by the pocket finger apex 82 as shownin Fig. 6. The secondcontainer is thereby brought into contact with the wall 83 of the nextpocket and formed entirely by the turret itself.

After the continuity of the row has been broken and the mechanism resetby the spring 56, the next container to approach the mechanism, ifmispositioned, is stopped and indexed by the iinger 45.

However, should a container be so positioned on the conveyor I that it;rear countersunk wall I8 passes the contact edge B2 during the time'that the lever 52 is held depressed by the preceding container, it isnot intercepted but proceeds directly into the turret where it isreceived without being crushed. To be so positioned, however, thecontainer must satisfy one of two conditions. Either it must beinitially positioned on the conveyor within the allowable predeterminedlimits, or it must be close enough to the preceding container to comeinto contact with it as it is being decelerated while entering thepocket 80. In the latter case, the two containers will in effect becomean abutting row, and the indexing of the second container will beaccomplished by the turret, as has been hereinbefore described.

The containers A after being fully seated in the pocket 80, are fedforward by the turret I2 and delivered to the turret I3.

While in the turret I2, the containers are maintained in a predeterminedpath of travel by a curved extension 81 of the uter rail 22, and whilein the turret I3 are guided by a curved guide rau sa.

invention or sacrificing all of its material'advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. An article timing mechanism, comprising a conveyor for advancing saidarticle, feeding means for receiving articles lfrom said conveyor, stopmeans located adjacent said conveyor and actuated by said article whenthe latter is mlspositioned on said conveyor'and is not in properposition to be received by said feeding means, said stop means beingmoved to engage and to stop the advancement of the article while 'saidconveyor advances, and means for disengaging said stop means from saidarticle when the latter is properly positioned on said conveyor.

2. An article timing mechanism, comprising a continuously movingconveyor for advancing said article, a turret having pockets forreceiving articles from said conveyor, a stop finger located adjacentsaid conveyor and actuated by said article when the latter is out ofposition to enter a pocket ofsaid turret, said stopmeans being moved bythe article to engage and to stop the advancement of the article, andmeans actuatable independently of said article for disengaging said stopfinger from said article when the latter is properly positioned on saidconveyor.

3. An article indexing mechanism, comprising a conveyor for supportingand advancing articles. feeding means for receiving articles from saidconveyor, a stop finger located adjacent said conveyor, means fornormally maintaining said stop nger in operative position to interceptmispositioned articles not in proper position to be received by saidfeeding means, said stop nger engaging and holding said mispositionedarticles to reposition them on said conveyor, and means for periodicallymoving said stop nger to inope'ative position tc release saidrepositioned artic es. y

4. A mechanism for timing an article having a recessed wall portion,comprising a continuously moving conveyor i'or supporting and advancinga said article, a timed feeding device for receiving articles from saidconveyor, stop means located adjacent said conveyor and actuatable by anarticle not in proper position to be received by said feeding device,said stop means when actuated projecting a part into a said recessedwall portion of said articlev to engage and to stop the advancement ofthe latter while said conveyor continues to advance,vmeans formaintaining said article in engagement with said stop means, and meansfor withdrawing said stop means from said recessed wall portion whensaid article is properly positioned on said conveyor( 5. A mechanism forindexing articles, comprising a continuously moving conveyor forsupporting and advancing said articles, a turret having spaced pocketsfor receiving the articles, a stop finger located adjacent Saidconveyor, means for normally maintaining said stop linger in operativeposition and in the path of articles advancing with said conveyor,articles engaging said stop finger being mispositioned for properreceipt into a turret pocket, said mispositioned articles movl ing saidstop linger into intercepting and holding position to prevent articlemovement with the conveyor as long as said stop finger is in operativeposition, means for periodically moving said stop iinger toinoperativeiposition to release any held and correctly positionedarticles. and means connected with said linger moving means for holdingsaid stop ringer in inoperative position for a predetermined period oftime so that correctly positioned articles will pass said stop lingeruninterruptedly.

6. A mechanism for indexing articles, comprising a continuously movingconveyor i'or supporting and advancing said articles, a turret havingspaced pockets for receiving the articles, a stop finger locatedadjacent said conveyor, means for normally maintaining said stop fingerin operative position to intercept articles misposltioned for receiptinto said turret pockets, said articles moving said stop linger for saidarticle interception, means for periodically moving said stop vlinger toinoperative position to release said articles then correctly positionedon said conveyor for receipt into said turret pocket, and means operableby the correctly positioned articles which have passed said stop lingerfor holding said stop iinger in its inoperative position so thatsucceeding articles held properly spaced on said conveyor by saidcorrectly positioned articles will pass by said linger uninterruptedly.

7. A mechanism for indexing articles, comprising a continuously movingconveyor for supporting and advancing said articles, a turret havingspaced pockets for receiving the articles, a stop finger locatedadiacent said conveyor, means for normally maintaining said stop fingerin operative position to intercept and delay advancement of articlesmispositioned for receipt in the turret pockets, means for periodicallymoving said stop rincer to inoperative position to release said retardedarticles then correctly positioned on said conveyor, cam means forholding said stop linger in inoperative position for a predeterminedperiodof time so that articles positioned correctly on said conveyorwill pass by said stop linger uninterrupted, and means operable by thecorrectly` positioned articles which have passed said stop iinger forfurther holding said stop linger in inoperative position for anadditional period of time so that succeeding articles which are properlyspaced on said conveyor by preceding correctly positioned articles willpass by said finger uninterruptedly.

8. A mechanism for indexing articles, comprising a continuously movingrconveyor for supporting and advancing said articles along apredetermined path of travel, a stop finger mounted adjacent saidconveyor, a stop edge at one end oi.' said finger, a portion at theother end of said iinger extending into the path of travel of saidarticles and being movable by said articles, said stop iinger beingmovable when said portion is moved by said article to engage said stopedge extendingr above the upper surface of said conveyor, said stopiinger being rotatable when said inclined portion is depressed by a saidarticle to project said stop edge into the recessed bottom of thearticle to thereby stop the advancement of the latter, and means forwithdrawing said` porting and advancing containers positioned at` randomthereon, a turret having spaced pockets` for receiving containers fromsaid conveyor. a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said conveyor, meansfor urging said lever into operative position, a stop linger pivotallymounted on said'lever and engageable by containers on said conveyor thenpassing said stop finger, such containers being in the wrong positionfor receipt into said turret pocket, said linger being engageable onlywhen saidlever is in operative position and when so engaged preventingadvancement ofmispositioned containers holding them for correctpositioning, means for periodically movingr said lever into inoperativeposition to release said repositioned containers, and means connectedwith said movingr means for holding said lever in inoperative positionfor suiiicient time to permit uninterrupted passage of all correctlypositioned containers past said ringer. 11. A mechanism for indexingarticles havin recessed bottoms, comprising a continuously movinarconveyor for supporting and advancing said articles along apredetermined path of travel, a lever pivotally mounted adiacent saidconveyor in the path of travel of said articles, means for maintainingsaid lever in araised positiolmzalstop iinger pivotally mounted on saidlever and actuatable by said article when said lever is :ln raisedposition to proiect into and engage the recessed bottom of said articleto stop the advancement of the latter,l and 4means for moving said leverto a lowered position to disengage said stop finger from said articlewhen the latter is properly indexed on said conveyor.

12. A mechanism for indexing articles, comprising a continuously movingconveyor for supporting and advancing articles positioned at randomthereon, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said conveyor, means forurging said lever into operative position, a stop finger pivotallymounted on said lever, said ringer being held in operative position whensaid lever is in operative position, a contact edge on said stop finger,a portion of said finger extending into the path of travel of saidarticles and actuated by those articles which are mispositioned on saidconveyor to engage said contact edge with said mispositioned articles tostop the latter, means for periodically moving said lever intoinoperative position to thereby disengage said stop finger from saidarticles, and means for periodically holding said lever in inoperativeposition for a predetermined period of time so that correctly positionedarticles will pass said stop finger.

13. A mechanism for indexing articles having recessed bottoms,comprising a continuously moving conveyor for supporting and advancingsaid articles along a predetermined path of travel, a lever pivotallymounted adiacent said conveyor in the path of travel of said articles,means for maintaining raid lever in a raised position, a stop iingerpivotally mounted on said lever and actuated bv said article when saidlever is in raised position to project into and engage the recessedbottom of said article to stop the advancement of the latter, means formoving said lever to a ll lowered position to release said article whenthe latter is properly indexed on said conveyor, and means associatedwith said lever and eneageable by said released article for holding saidlever in its lowered position for a predetermined length of time.

14. A mechanism for indexing containers. comprisine a continuouslymoving conveyor for supporting and advancing containers positioned atrandom thereon. a lever ivotally mounted adjacent said conveyor, meansfor ureine: said lever into raised position, a lston iinser nivotallvmounted on said lever, a contact edae on said stopv neer. an inclinedportion of said iincer extendin@r into the nath of travel of saidcontainers and actuated bv those containers which are misnositioned /onsaid conveyor to bring said contact edf'e into engagement with saidmispositioned containers to stnn the advancement of the latten. v

means for rerindicaliv movinar said lever into lowered position tothereby disenfraze said contact edee from said containers. means forperiodically holdinizr said lever in lowered position fora predeterminedperiod of time so that correctly positioned containers will not actuatesaid stopiincer. and an inclined surface on said lever extendineupwardly into the nath oi travel of said containers and enaaeeable bysaid containers after thev have passed said contact edge to maintainsaid ,lever in lowered position until said contrainers have passedbevond said surface, said surface beine.r spaced from said contact edgea distance at leest eoual to the length of said containers beineindexed.

15. An article indexins,r mechanism, comprising a conveyor for advancingand supporting articles positioned at random thereon. a rotary turretfor receiving said articles from said conveyor, container receivingpockets on said turret, indexing means adjacent said conveyor forindexing said means for receiving articles from said conveyor,

stop means located adiacent said conveyor and at a predetermineddistance from said feeding means for stopping the advancement ofarticles not in correct position for receipt by said feeding means. saidstop means being moved by advancing mispositioned articles into stoppingengagement with the same articles, and means for rendering said stonmeans inoperative for a predetermined period of time to allowuninterrupted passage of articles correctly positioned for receipt intosaid feeding means.

RONALD E. J. NORDQUIST. JULIUS FORIS.

marismasons CITED The followiner references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,422,229 Sharp July 11, 19221,770,530 Oslund July 15, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Datel461,796 Germany June 29, 1928

